Guilford building project nears completion

GUILFORD – Less than nine months after construction started on Guilford’s town hall and highway garage project, town officials are just weeks away from moving into their new facility.

According to Building Committee Chairperson Susan McIntyre, the town hall will be move-in ready by mid to late June. The highway garage won’t be far behind, with completion anticipated by the end of June or early July.

“I think we’re very fortunate to have the speed of completion that we had,” McIntyre said, adding that the project was largely on schedule.

In the town hall, contractors are working on punch list items, said Clerk of the Works Brian Treffeison. A few lighting fixtures, installing site lighting and getting the permanent power turned on are the largest of the remaining items. The site is currently operating with temporary power.

The space will be a vast improvement over the town offices current location in a rather dingy corner of the town’s highway garage which dates back to the early 1950’s. The spacious new facility has numerous windows which allow plenty of natural light.

The open floor plan includes a large open plan office at the front of the building where the town clerk, justices, assessor and supervisor will continue to share space. They’ll be joined by the town historian as well, who has not previously had a designated space. In the rear of the building is a large multipurpose space which will be used as both courtroom and boardroom, as well as an adjoining judge’s chamber, holding room and a small conference room/office. The floor plan also includes a staff break room, handicap accessible bathrooms and storage space for archived records.